Wirral Hospitals' School

Inspection Report Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base

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105139 Unique Reference Number Wirral LEA 277302 Inspection number 16 February 2006 to 16 February 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Frances Gander CfBT Lead Inspector Reporting inspector

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This inspection was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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157 Park Road North School address Special Type of school Claughton Community special School category Wirral CH41 0EZ 2 to 17 Age range of pupils 0151 488 7680 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 0151 653 8342 Fax number 128 Number on roll Mrs C Muspratt Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Miss A Cunningham Headteacher 2 October 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277302 16 February 2006 - 2 to 17 16 February 2006 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February 2006

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service provides education for pupils who are unable to attend mainstream school for health reasons. It takes place in three locations. The Joseph Paxton Campus is the main base and provides part time education for pupils between the ages of 10 and 16 who have difficulties, such as school phobia, emotional insecurity, or eating disorders. A second establishment is at Adcote House. This provides six week assessment for pupils with severe psychological problems. Most pupils in these two settings have been reluctant to attend their mainstream schools. All pupils, except those in Year 11, remain on the roll of their original school as the main aim is for them to return to mainstream education. The ability level of pupils is wide, but when they enter the school many are underachieving because of disrupted education. There are a small percentage of pupils with statements of special educational

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Description of the school

need. The number of pupils attending varies throughout the year and, because pupils return to their mainstream schools, mobility is high. The school oversees the education of pupils or sixth form students who are short term patients at Arrowe Park Hospital. It also manages the local authority's service for pregnant schoolgirls and young mothers, and the home tuition service. In the last two years the school has had a change of headteacher and relocation to different premises.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February

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Grade: 2

The school provides a good education for its pupils. It is highly effective in meeting the emotional and social needs of all its pupils, and meets the wide range of academic needs of its pupils well. The good teaching, the breadth of expertise of the staff, the teamwork, and the very positive ethos and care are underlying strengths. As a result, pupils from a low starting point make significant gains in their personal development, attendance and academic progress. All parents feel that the school is providing good education and that pupils begin to enjoy and value education. The school's self-evaluation is rigorous and accurate. The school has improved at a very fast rate since the appointment of the current headteacher. All areas for improvement from the last inspection have been achieved, as well as moving into the new accommodation. The provision has been greatly enhanced by the new building, but space remains

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Grade: 2

limited at Adcote House, where it restricts the curricular opportunities. The school was modest in judging some aspects of its performance. However, inspection evidence indicates that this is a school that evaluates its own performance very thoroughly and knows its strengths and weaknesses particularly well. The high standards set by the management team, the clear vision for the future, and the rapid rate of improvement show that the school has the capacity and enthusiasm to improve further. The school provides good value money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Continue to develop the role of the curriculum coordinators in monitoring standards and teaching in their subjects. • Make better use of the information from assessment to set academic targets for pupils. • Ensure that the planning, the setting of academic targets, and the record keeping at Adcote House are consistent with those in the rest of the provision.

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Grade: 2

Pupils throughout the provision achieve well. The majority come, into both the Joseph Paxton Campus and Adcote House, with negative attitudes to education. They are reluctant to attend school because of social or emotional difficulties. As a result, they are attaining levels below those expected for pupils of a similar age, especially in literacy and numeracy, and with gaps in their knowledge, skills and understanding in other subjects. They receive support and understanding from staff, a calm and secure environment to work in, a personal education programme and good quality teaching. In the Joseph Paxton Campus the quality of the very good accommodation and resources has a significant effect on achievement. Due to all these factors pupils' attendance improves and they re-engage in learning. Many make rapid progress; they reach the levels which would normally be expected for pupils of a similar age and attain

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Grade: 2

general certificate of secondary education (GCSE) in a range of subjects. The school 2 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February has rightly identified that some of the younger pupils do not make as rapid progress as the older ones. They are currently investigating this in relation to pupils' attitudes and the effect of the part time provision. Pupils who attend Adcote House for a short period of time, although limited in their opportunities by the restricted space, achieve well because of the wealth of support they receive from the health and psychological teams who work with them. This helps them to overcome and manage their difficulties and thus re-engage in learning. Many return to their schools or transfer to the Joseph Paxton Campus.

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Grade: 1

Personal development, behaviour and attitudes are excellent because pupils develop a respect for themselves and for others. They act responsibly and safely, which is sometimes in contrast to their previous experiences. There are significant improvements in levels of attendance as pupils begin to enjoy their education and want to achieve. Pupils feel safe and secure, free from bullying and discrimination, and know that any problems that occur will be supported and dealt with fairly. Pupils' personal development, confidence and self esteem improve significantly from the time they enter the school. As a result, a high number of younger pupils return to mainstream education having developed the skills to cope. Good emphasis is placed on social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, as well as developing positive relationships. Older pupils are very well prepared for life beyond school, as they are provided with

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Grade: 1

many opportunities to understand the significance of economic and work related skills, including work experience and college link courses. Of those pupils who stay until the end of Year 11, the majority take up further training or courses, or employment.

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Grade: 2

The school's monitoring of teaching and learning across the provision also indicates it is good. Pupils, especially at the Joseph Paxton Campus, are taught by subject specialists and in specialist subject rooms. This has a positive affect on achievement. The majority of teachers have a long association with the school, know the pupils very well, and are dedicated in helping them overcome their difficulties and achieve their best. One parent sent a letter to the inspection team in which she thanked all the staff for the way they communicated with the pupils. Teachers have developed a consistent approach to lesson planning and teaching methods, such as by sharing lesson objectives with pupils, and recapping and evaluating learning. However, at Adcote House the planning, and the evaluation of learning and targets, is not as good as it is at the Joseph Paxton Campus. Teachers have developed a good level of expertise in the use

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Grade: 2

of information and communication technology (ICT) for teaching and learning, such as by using interactive whiteboards and by confidently encouraging pupils to use 3 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February laptops in all subjects. Over the last two years a well structured assessment system has been used and is providing detailed information about pupils' progress in the different aspects within subjects. The school is now well placed to make more use of the information to set individual academic targets.

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Grade: 2

Despite the part time nature of the provision, the school provides a good range of curricular opportunities for most of its pupils. The timetable, and the opportunities provided over a period of time, are creatively organised so that pupils cover most subjects of the National Curriculum. Full time education is now provided for Year 11 pupils and there are good opportunities for Year 10 pupils to participate in independent study. However, parents of other pupils are particularly keen for their children to have access to an increased number of hours. For example, one parent stated that their daughter was much better in herself and was enjoying her time at the centre, but felt it was shame that she was only spending a short time in such an excellent establishment. The curricular needs of pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities are provided for through appropriate alternative accredited courses. The curriculum is

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Grade: 2

enriched well by other activities, such as visits outside school, visiting speakers, social experiences and lifeskills courses. These support the pupils' personal development very well and have a particular affect on self confidence. There are well established and relevant personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons, along with an active citizenship programme where pupils have good opportunities to contribute to the community, such as by fund raising for the Red Cross.

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Grade: 1

The provision for this is excellent. As well as the dedication and support provided by the staff of the school, there is an outstanding range of and access to support from outside agencies. All these different disciplines work very effectively together to improve the emotional well-being of each pupil. As one parent stated, her child 'was made to feel very special at her introductory visit, this made her very excited at attending Adcote House; she has settled very well'. Guidance and support has been further enhanced by the recent appointment of a learning mentor at the Joseph Paxton campus who provides pupils with additional advocacy, which they value. In keeping with the caring ethos of the school high priority is given to health, safety and child protection. There are very strong links and support from the Connexions Service so that the pupils are very well prepared for leaving and the next stage of education or training. Parents are very appreciative and complimentary

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Grade: 1

about the care and guidance given to them and to their children. 4 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the school are good. Since taking over in 2004 the headteacher, along with the senior management team, have used self-evaluation to honestly identify the strengths of the provision and areas for further development. Use of this with staff and governors has resulted in a realistic school improvement plan, action in priority areas and has provided a clear way forward in the past and for the future. The majority of the weaknesses perceived by management and staff two years ago have been addressed. This is in addition to managing the organisation and moving to the new building. There is a very appropriate list of future developments identified in the school development plan. These include the increased role of curriculum coordinators in monitoring their subjects, and the restructuring of middle management and staffing due to impending retirements. Governors have also improved

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Grade: 2

their expertise and awareness of their roles. They are very well informed about the needs of the school and help the management make the best possible use of the finances and resources. 5 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February .

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set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s

website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Wirral Hospitals School and Home Education Service Community Base, 16 February 2006 to 16 February

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Overall

Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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learners?

NA 1 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA NA The quality and standards in foundation stage NA 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation NA Yes The capacity to make any necessary improvements NA Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well do learners achieve? NA 4 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

NA 2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 1 The behaviour of learners NA 2 The attendance of learners NA 1 How well learners enjoy their education NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 2 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community NA 2 How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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needs and interests of learners?

NA 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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needs and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low.

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and supporting all learners?

NA 2 How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education NA 2 How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review NA 2 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can NA 1 How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money NA 2 The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities NA Yes The adequacy and suitability of staff to ensure that learners are protected

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The extent to which schools enable learners to be healthy

Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to eat and drink healthily Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to take regular exercise Yes Learners are discouraged from smoking and substance abuse Yes Learners are educated about sexual health

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The extent to which providers ensure that learners stay safe

Yes Procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements Yes Risk assessment procedures and related staff training are in place Yes Action is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour, such as bullying and racism Yes Learners are taught about key risks and how to deal with them

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The extent to which learners make a positive contribution

Yes Learners are helped to develop stable, positive relationships Yes Learners, individually and collectively, participate in making decisions that affect them Yes Learners are encouraged to initiate, participate in and manage activities in school and the wider community

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The extent to which schools enable learners to achieve economic well-being

Yes There is provision to promote learners’ basic skills Yes Learners have opportunities to develop enterprise skills and work in teams Yes Careers education and guidance is provided to all learners in key stage 3 and 4 and the sixth form Yes Education for all learners aged 14–19 provides an understanding of employment and the economy

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

As you know, we recently visited you to find out about your school, what you did and how well you being helped with your learning and overcoming any difficulties you may have. We would like to thank you all for being friendly, polite, well behaved and welcoming. We agree with your parents that you attend a good school. Here is a list of all the things that we liked about it: - how well your headteacher and teachers know and care for you - that you are taught by good teachers, and have access to a very wide range of support from outside agencies - that your behaviour, attitudes and attendance improves, and that you begin to enjoy learning - that the school building and the resources at the Joseph Paxton Campus are of very high quality - how hard you try to get on well with everyone and build positive relationships. This is what we have asked your school to do now, to make it even better: - make sure that teachers who have responsibility keep a close eye on the quality of teaching

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

and learning in their subjects - make more use of the information from assessment to set academic targets for you - ensure that the quality of planning, the setting of academic targets, and the record keeping at Adcote House are as good as those in the rest of the provision. We hope you carry on enjoying your time at school.

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